Listening to this new-to-us-but-likely-first-recording of “Strange Relationship” by Prince (“Piano & a Microphone 1983”) brings back fond memories of an impromptu boys’ trip.

It was circa 1990, on a random summer Friday evening in San Francisco when, on a whim, a mate and I decided that we just had to head to Reno for a casino night. Another college mate who worked at Enterprise hooked us up with a sweet rental car — which I want to say cost us something like $19 per day with unlimited mileage — and fueled by Taco Bell, a sixer of Mountain Dew, and Prince’s double album Sign O’ The Times, we rolled heavy from SF to the Biggest Little City In The World.

“Strange Relationship” came on somewhere around Donner Summit, and as we zipped past the former site of cannibalistic craziness in our brand-spanking-new Nissan Maxima, this iconic Prince track had us reflecting on our own various liaisons with girlfriends present and past.

Well, we made it to Reno’s Peppermill Casino in three hours flat. All hail the late Prince Rogers Nelson and spirited driving — and spontaneous road trips.

Also, “Piano & a Microphone 1983”, released last Friday, is gold. Acquire at once.

::M::

Fashion Work was originally published in Superobvio .us on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

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I was probably seven years old when I first picked up a camera, and more or less have not put one down since. The actual cameras I’ve shot with have certainly changed over the years, and continues to this day — 35mm, medium format, Polaroid, smartphone, DSLR.

It’s what one does with those images to tell a story — the sharing of the experience — which is the important bit.

Much of the work I’ve done in the recent past is fashion lifestyle and editorial, though I’ve an insatiable curiosity for just about everything, so you’ll also find me shooting work, play, sport, travel — you know, life.

If you find my work interesting, I‘d love to chat about your project, concept, or the idea you’ve just scribbled on a cocktail napkin while reading this. (If you think my work is rubbish, send me a note anyway — I love feedback.)

Please reach me, any time, via Instagram or email.

I am based in New York City, though can sometimes be found in San Francisco, as well. (You can take the boy out of California…)

I, Photographer was originally published in Superobvio .us on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

“Heart Is Full” is the first song release from the forthcoming Miike Snow album, and Lance Drake’s music video has so many references to so much visual goodness, it’s ridiculous.

Seems there has been a spate of dystopian story tropes in music videos lately, which I welcome with open arms. (Chemical Brothers, holla!) The opening scene of Heart Is Full immediately had me thinking of Blade Runner — the the scene in which Deckard retires Zhora, and the later one where he’s ‘introduced’ to Pris.

“Nearly every frame has a small homage — Ghost in the Shell, 5th Element, and Mortal Kombat to name a few.” Drake said to Entertainment Weekly recently.

Drake’s direction, coupled with the spectacular imagery of director of photography Todd Banhazl, and the casting of the gorgeous Amber Rose doppelgänger Braina Laviena, makes an explosive combination, leaving just a lovely piece of work.

Beyond the video, the song itself is aural candy. Marlena Shaw’s ‘Waiting For Charlie To Come Home’ is exquisitely sampled, providing both the sultry intro as well as the catchy hook. With more than 600K plays on SoundCloud already, you might well have the song on repeat. (On repeat!) I’ve had the video and the track in heavy rotation since Thanksgiving.

Also, can we pause and all-hail this Run The Jewels remix?

((w))